CalCOFI Reports, Vol. 30, 1989 - California Cooperative Oceanic ...

FISHERIES REVIEW: 1988
CalCOFl Rep.,Vol. 30,1989
weather was only occasionally poor. During the
first half of the year, particularly when mackerel
were not available, fishermen complained that
abundant sardines interfered with mackerel fishing.
The 1987-88 season closed on June 30, 1988, with a
total catch of 49,420 tons of Pacific mackerel. This
is the highest seasonal total since the fishery reopened
in 1977. Pacific mackerel contributed 73%
to statewide landings of mackerel, and 98% of all
Pacific mackerel landings were made in southern
California.
The 1988-89 season opened on July 1, 1988, with
no quota restrictions, based on a biomass estimated
to be about 290,000 tons. Landings during July,
August, and September were fair, although effort
in July was often redirected to more profitable bonito
and bluefin tuna. Record-size bluefin tuna again
captured the interest of the purse seine fleet in November
and December; this, in combination with
rough weather, resulted in lower landings during
the last quarter. By the end of the year, 19,120 tons
of Pacific mackerel had been landed toward the
1988-89 season total. This is only 80% of the landings
made during the first half of the 1987-88 season.
Landings of Pacific mackerel for the year
totaled 44,510 tons. Although slightly less than the
1987 total, the 1988 catch still exceeds the annual
average landings for the previous five years. Northern
California landings contributed only 2% to the
year’s total. The proportion of the Pacific mackerel
catch occurring in Monterey has declined steadily
over the last several years.
Market demand remained constant throughout
the year, and processors continued to impose landing
limits (40-50 tons per boat per day, on average).
The ex-vessel price, $155 per ton, has not changed
since 1985.
Although the 1986 year class is strong and contributed
40% (by weight) of the fish landed during
the year, the 1987 year class made a weak appearance
as one-year-olds, and constituted only 14% of the
landings. The 1988 year class dominated landings in
December and may be strong. It is difficult, however,
to accurately assess the strength of the incoming
year class. If the 1988 year class does not prove
to be substantial, the fishery will be sustained primarily
by 1985 and 1986 year-class fish.
“Night-light’’ surveys, in which mackerel were
sampled by hook and line both at night (random
stations) and during the day (random and visually
located stations), were conducted in 1988. Results
indicated that this technique may be useful as an
early, fishery-independent index of year-class
strength.
MARKET SQUID
Landings of market squid (Loligo opulesccns) in
1988 totaled 40,865 short tons. These landings
greatly exceed the previous fishery high in 1981 of
25,915 tons, and are 2.5 times the previous 10-year
average of 16,122 tons (table 1).
The northern California (or Monterey) fishery
landed only 5,000 tons this year. Since the 1982-83
El Nifio event, Monterey landings have never returned
to the previous levels of 10,000 to 14,000
tons; instead, landings have ranged between 4,300
and 6,500 tons. This year, however, the proportion
of landings dropped, with only 12% of the total
catch landed in northern California. As is typical,
most of northern California’s squid was caught in
the Monterey area. Unlike last year, only a small
amount of squid was taken from the Afio Nuevo
and Pigeon Point area (figure 1).
The price in Monterey remained at $200 per ton
until midseason, when a two-day strike by fishermen
raised the price to $240 per ton. With the increased
price, however, came buyer-imposed trip
limits.
Fishing under experimental gear permits took
place in Monterey Bay in 1987 and 3988. The purse
seine and half-purse drum seine gear had a leadcore
footrope instead of chain, and the purse rings were
attached to the footrope with lines containing no
metal. A Department observation program evaluated
the effectiveness of this gear and the typical
lampara gear relative to egg-case mortality. The results
indicated that the new nets would not have a
serious impact on squid eggs, and the Department
recommended that fishermen be permitted to use
this gear throughout Monterey Bay. Fishing with
lights, which concentrates the squid at the surface,
was authorized in all of Moiiterey Bay this year.
The observation program suggested that the use of
lights with the new gear could result in fewer squid
egg cases being taken. In addition, the observations
indicated that the use of balloons or suspenders to
raise the lead line could prevent the scraping of eggs
off the bottom. This gear, however, is not in widespread
use. For the 1989 season, it was recommended
that the experimental gear vessels not be
allowed to fish during April and May. This would
allow some spawning to occur in the spring, and
keep the peak fishing season open during the summer
and fall.
In marked contrast to the northern fishery this
year, the southern fishery had tremendous success,
landing 35,865 tons. Spawning squid were reported
in many locations where they are not traditionally
seen. The southern fishery typically follows a fall-
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